In radiant wall and ceiling hydronic room heating or cooling systems, using tubing that is fed hot or cold water, the tubing is embedded in gypsum or cement wallboard in intimate thermal contact therewith so that the wallboard heats or cools the room

ABSTRACT

A method of providing hydronic radiant heating and/or cooling to a room that is framed by wall studs and ceiling rafters, comprising the steps of: providing a sheet of gypsum or cement wallboard with a length of tubing embedded in said gypsum or cement material of said wallboard, attaching the sheet of gypsum or cement wallboard with length of tubing embedded therein to the wall studs or ceiling rafters of the room, abutting conventional wallboard of the same thickness and connecting a supply of warm or cool water to the tubing for feeding water through the tubing, so that heated water so fed through the tubing heats the gypsum or cement material in the wallboard, which heats the room, or cooled water so fed through the tubing cools the gypsum or cement material in the wallboard, which cools the room.

[0001] The applicant herein claims the benefit of his prior file U.S.Provisional Applications: Serial No. 60/351,540, filed Jan. 23, 2002;and Serial No. 60/381,760, filed Apr. 20, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to radiant hydronic systems that heat orcool by attached tubing that is fed hot or cold water for heating and/orcooling dwellings, offices, etc., the tubing being held in the walls orceiling of a room as part of an assembly of panels that carry the tubingso that the panels radiate heat to the room when the tubing is fed hotwater, to heat the room; or absorbs heat from the room by radiation whenthe tubing is fed cold water, to cool the room; the tubing being securedin the panels in intimate thermal contact with the panel material in thewall or ceiling of the room.

[0003] In particular, the panels are made of gypsum or Portland cementof conventional size wallboard in which the tubing may be embedded atmanufacture or inserted in situs and the wallboard is finished in aconventional manner that may include taping joints, plastering, paintingand tiling.

[0004] For example, the panels may be have a skim coat of hard plasterapplied to finish the wall, the plaster being applied across abuttingsheets of the wallboard that may be taped where they abut, providing asmooth hard highly durable plaster wall surface, as well as gentlyradiating heat or cooling the room.

Dry Modular Panel Radiant Hydronic Heating

[0005] Hydronic radiant floor heating (RFH), radiant wall heating (RWH)and radiant ceiling heating (RCH) are techniques of heating a room in adwelling or commercial building for human and creature comfort. It isbelieved by many that hydronic radiant heating is the ideal way to warmthe human body and superior to forced hot air heating.

[0006] Typical hydronic heating systems require a supply of hot waterfrom a boiler and means for modulating the temperature of the water fromthe supply that is fed to the heating loops of the system, which includetubing and heating elements. This is particularly the case where modularpanels are used in a dry installation in the floor for RFH, in the wallfor RWH or in the ceiling for RCH. For example, if the supply watertemperature is 180° F. for laundry, it must be modulated to about 100°F. (or lower) for RFH, RWH or RCH. A suitable system for reducing andcontrolling the supply water temperature for RFH, RWH and RCH isdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,988, issued Jun. 09, 1992, entitled“Hydronic Heating Water Temperature Control System, to Joachim Fiedrich,the inventor herein. In that patent a three-way, modulated diverting orby-pass valve is provided in the return line to the boiler, fordiverting some of the cooler return water to the hot supply water toreduce the temperature of the supply water feeding the heating loopsupply header. This is sometimes called temperature dilution and thediverting valve is modulated by a feedback signal derived from thediluted water temperature.

[0007] Modular panel heating elements for RFH, RWH and RCH are describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,065, issued Mar. 08, 1994, entitled “RadiantFloor And Wall Hydronic Heating Systems”, to Joachim Fiedrich, theinventor herein. The panel elements include a metal radiation plate orsheet attached to two spaced apart boards for holding the tubing inintimate thermal contact with the radiation plate, so that the plate isheated by conduction of heat from the tubing, and the plate has asubstantial radiating surface that radiates heat to the room.

[0008] Thermal conduction from the tubing to the plate and mechanicalattachment of the tubing to the panel are insured by a resilientthermally conductive filler material as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,579,996, issued Dec. 03, 1996, entitled “Radiant Floor And WallHydronic Heating Systems”, also to Joachim Fiedrich, the inventorherein.

[0009] Hydronic heating systems using the modular panel heating elementsdescribed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,292,065 and 5,579,996to cool as well as heat are described U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,931,381 and6,220,523, issued Aug. 03, 1999 and Apr. 24, 2001, respectively, bothentitled “For Radiant Floor, Wall and Ceiling Hydronic Heating And/orCooling Systems Using Metal Plates That Are Heated or Cooled by AttachedTubing That Is Fed Hot or Cold Water, Techniques of ImprovingPerformance and Avoiding Condensation When Cooling” and both by JoachimFiedrich, the inventor herein. The systems described in those patentsinclude floor, wall and ceiling installations of modular panel elementsand tubing. The floor installations are particularly effective forheating (RFH) and can also be used for cooling (RFC); the ceilinginstallations are particularly effective for cooling (RCC) and can alsobe used for heating (RCH); and the wall installations are effective forboth heating (RWH) and cooling (RWC) and all use modular panels thatinclude two spaced apart boards that hold the tubing and a radiatingmetal plate against the tubing, firmly secured to the boards.

[0010] Cooling is done by feeding cool water to the tubing to reduce thetemperature of the radiation plate in the modular panel, to below roomtemperature so that heat is radiated from the room to the metal plateand conducted from the plate to the cool water in the tubing, heatingthe water slightly and the water is fed to a heat exchanger where itgives up the heat and is fed back to the panels. This circulation ofcool water is continuous and may be a closed system. Systems forheating, systems for cooling and systems for doing both are described inthose patents.

[0011] Modular panel structures that are laminations in which the metalradiation plate and tubing are in a middle layer between a structuralboard and a finished floor covering are described in U.S. ProvisionalApplication Serial No. 60/049,381, filed Jun. 10, 1997, entitled “InRadiant Floor, Wall and Ceiling Hydronic Cooling Systems and Heating andCooling Systems, Using Metal Plates That Are Heated or Cooled byAttached Tubing That Is Fed Hot or Cold Water, Structures of PlatesLaminated in Holder Boards and Tubing Attachments”, by Joachim Fiedrich,the inventor herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method andmeans of providing modular panels for “dry” installation of RWH and/orRWC and RCH and/or RCC in a room using wallboards of gypsum or Portlandcement in which the tubing is embedded, so that a substantial part ofthe wallboard is heated or cooled to heat or cool the room by radiation.

[0013] It is a further object that the wallboards of gypsum or Portlandcement in which the tubing is embedded are dimensionally compatible withconventional wallboards of the same kind for installation on wall studsor ceiling rafters and can be finished for painting or wallpaper likeconventional wallboard.

[0014] In some embodiments, gypsum or cement wallboard panels with thetubing embedded therein are attached to a wall or ceiling of a room andcan serve for heating or for cooling the room and also provide thefinished wall or ceiling surface ready for painting. In all embodiments,the wallboard panels are preferably conventional size (4 ft×8 ft×½ to 1inch thick) for attachment to the wall studs or ceiling rafters,abutting conventional wallboard of the same dimensions.

[0015] For some embodiments, the tubing must be embedded in the gypsumor cement wallboard at manufacture. For other embodiments, the wallboardis grooved to receive the tubing and the tubing is inserted into thegrooves at installation. The grooving can be done at manufacture or atinstallation

[0016] It is a further object that the wallboards of gypsum or Portlandcement is adapted with grooves when made and in which the tubing isinserted at installation and all of the abutting wallboards (such asblueboards) are covered by a coat of hard plaster finish, thecombination of blueboards so adapted and loaded with tubing beingdimensionally compatible with conventional wallboards of the same kind,all for installation on wall studs or ceiling rafters and finished withthe same coat of hard plaster for painting or wallpaper, likeconventional skim coat hard plaster walls.

[0017] In embodiments where the grooved gypsum or cement wallboardpanels are attached to wall studs, then the tubing is inserted in thegrooves and secured thereto, the water supply and return ends of thetubing are thread through holes to the spaces between floor joists forconnection to boiler supply and return headers the joints between boardsare taped and the skim coat of hard plaster is applied. The wallboardpanels are preferably conventional size (4 ft×8 ft×½ to 1 inch thick)for attachment to the wall studs or ceiling rafters, abuttingconventional wallboard of the same dimensions.

[0018] Thus, for all embodiments, RWH/RWC and RCC/RCH are installed“dry”(not in wet concrete) using gypsum or Portland cement wallboard inwhich tubing is embedded so that the wallboard is heated or cooled bythe tubing and the gypsum or cement material acts as a temperature sinkfor heating or cooling the room. Furthermore, the wallboard is sized forconventional attachment to wall studs or ceiling rafters alongsideconventional wallboard and for finishing like conventional wallboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIGS. 1 and 2 show the First Embodiment of a sheet of gypsumwallboard attach ed to the studs of a wall with tubing inserted into agroove in the outside surface of the wallboard through the paper coverinto the gypsum;

[0020]FIGS. 1 and 3 show the Second Embodiment of a sheet of gypsumwallboard attached to the studs of a wall with tubing inserted into agroove in the inside surface of the wallboard through the paper coverinto the gypsum;

[0021]FIG. 4 shows the Third Embodiment of a sheet of gypsum wallboardfor attachment to the studs of a wall and in which small diameter tubingis embedded entirely in the gypsum material and contained entirelyinside the paper cover that encapsulates the gypsum in the board, thetubing being incorporated in the wallboard at manufacture;

[0022]FIG. 5 shows the Fourth Embodiment of a sheet of gypsum wallboardfor attachment to the studs of a wall and in which relatively largerdiameter tubing is embedded entirely in the gypsum material andcontained entirely inside the paper cover that encapsulates the gypsumin the board and with a reinforcing web also embedded in the gypsummaterial to add rigidity and strength to the wallboard;

[0023]FIG. 6 shows a typical wood frame construction wall with a wallboard of conventional dimensions in which tubing is embedded in severalcourses defining a serpentine path through the wallboard, the coursesbeing arranged side by side and end to end in the wallboard and theboard length perpendicular to the studs, providing a horizontalarrangement of several passes of the tubing and ready for installationof abutting wallboard to complete the wall;

[0024]FIG. 7 shows a typical wood frame construction wall structure witha wall board of conventional dimensions in which tubing is embedded inseveral courses defining a serpentine path through the wallboard, thecourses being arranged side by side and end to end in the wallboard andthe board length parallel to the studs, providing a vertical arrangementof several passes of the tubing and ready for installation of abuttingwallboard to complete the wall;

[0025]FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show a typical wood frame construction wallstructure with a wall board of conventional dimensions in which tubingis embedded in several straight courses arranged side by side and end toend in the wallboard and all connected at one end (the water supply end)to the supply header tube, and at the other end (the water return end)to the return header tube;

[0026]FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 show a sheet of paper covered gypsum blueboardattached to the studs of a wall abutting another sheet of blueboard. InFIG. 11, the tubing is about to be inserted into a groove in theblueboard, which is factory made with the gypsum entirely encased inpaper, including the grooves, thus maintaining the strength gained bythe paper enclosure, even with the grooves, and in FIG. 12 a skim coatof hard plaster is applied over all of the abutting blueboards;

[0027]FIG. 14 shows typical wood frame construction with a wall board ofconventional dimensions in which tubing is embedded, as in FIG. 11, inseveral courses defining a serpentine path through the wallboard, thecourses being arranged side by side and end to end in the wallboard andthe board length perpendicular to the studs, providing a horizontalarrangement of several passes of the tubing and ready for installationof abutting wallboard to complete the wall, followed by a skim coat ofhard plaster, as in FIG. 12, to finish the wall; and

[0028]FIG. 15 shows a typical wood frame construction wall, as in FIG.14, with a wall board of conventional dimensions in which tubing isembedded in several courses defining a serpentine path through thewallboard, the courses being arranged side by side and end to end in thewallboard, with the board length parallel to the studs, providing avertical arrangement of several passes of the tubing and ready forinstallation of abutting wallboard to complete the wall, followed by askim coat of hard plaster, to finish the wall.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0029] First Embodiment—Gypsum Wallboard Grooved on the Outside SurfaceWith Tubing Inserted in the Groove

[0030]FIGS. 1 and 2 show the First Embodiment of a sheet 1 of gypsumwallboard 1 attached to the studs 2 of a wall with tubing 10 insertedinto a groove 4 in the outside surface 5 of the wallboard through thepaper cover 6 into the gypsum 7. The wallboard gypsum is usuallyentirely encased in the paper providing the board outside surface 5,inside surface 8 and all edges. The groove 4 can be made in thewallboard at manufacture or later at installation and the tubing 10 canbe inserted at manufacture or at installation, either before or afterthe wallboard is attached to the studs. In any case, the tubing 10carries hot or cold water to heat or cool the wallboard and so heat orcool the room by radiation.

[0031] Second Embodiment—Gypsum Wallboard Grooved on the Inside SurfaceWith Tubing Inserted in the Groove

[0032]FIGS. 1 and 3 show the Second Embodiment of a sheet 11 of gypsumwallboard attached to the studs 2 of a wall with tubing 10 inserted intoa groove 14 in the inside surface 18 of the wallboard through the papercover 16 into the gypsum 17. The wallboard gypsum is usually entirelyencased in the paper providing the board outside surface 15, insidesurface 18 and all edges. The groove 14 can be made in the wallboard atmanufacture or later at installation and the tubing can be inserted atmanufacture or at installation, before the wallboard is attached to thestuds. In any case, the tubing carries hot or cold water to heat or coolthe wallboard and so heat or cool the room by radiation. The location ofthe tubing and groove in the wallboard 11 can be indicated by markingson the outside paper surface and those markings may be readily coveredby plaster or paint.

[0033] Third Embodiment—Gypsum Wallboard With Small Diameter TubingEmbedded in the Gypsum Inside the Paper Cover

[0034]FIG. 4 shows the Third Embodiment of a sheet 21 of gypsumwallboard for attachment to the studs 2 of a wall and in which smalldiameter tubing 20 is embedded entirely in the gypsum material 27 andcontained entirely inside the paper cover 26 that encapsulates thegypsum in the board and provides outside surface 25, inside surface 28and the board edges. The tubing 20 is incorporated in the wallboard atmanufacture and the wallboard paper cover 26 is marked at least on theoutside surface to show the installer where the tubing is located. Thetubing 20 diameter is relatively small to insure sufficient gypsummaterial around it for the required strength and rigidity of thewallboard. The tubing carries hot or cold water to heat or cool thewallboard and so heat or cool the room by radiation.

[0035] Fourth Embodiment—Gypsum Wallboard With Larger Diameter Tubingand Reinforcing Web Embedded in the Gypsum Inside the Paper Cover

[0036]FIG. 5 shows the Fourth Embodiment of a sheet of gypsum wallboardfor attachment to the studs 2 of a wall and in which relatively largerdiameter tubing 30 is embedded entirely in the gypsum material 37 andcontained entirely inside the paper cover 36 that encapsulates thegypsum in the board and provides outside surface 35, inside surface 38and the board egdes. Along with the tubing, a reinforcing web 39 is alsoembedded in the gypsum material to add rigidity and strength to thewallboard to compensate for weakness introduced in the board by theembedded tubing. The web 38 may be made of material having the samethermal expansion characteristics as the wallboard. The web may alsoserve to conduct heat between the tubing and the gypsum material and forthat purpose may be more thermally conductive that the gypsum. Thetubing and reinforcing web are incorporated in the wallboard atmanufacture and the wallboard paper cover 36 is marked at least on theoutside surface to show the installer where the tubing is located. Thetubing carries hot or cold water to heat or cool the wallboard and soheat or cool the room by radiation.

[0037] Wall Installation—Wallboard Tubing Horizontal Across Studs

[0038] A typical wood frame construction wall structure is shown in FIG.6. It includes a wall bottom plate 43, studs 42 and top plate 44 erectedon the sub-floor 100. A wall board 41 of conventional dimensions inwhich tubing 40 is embedded in several courses 49 defining a serpentinepath through the wallboard, the courses being arranged side by side andend to end in the wallboard and the board length perpendicular to thestuds is secured to the studs, providing a horizontal arrangement ofseveral passes of the tubing and ready for installation of abuttingwallboard to complete the wall.

[0039] The tubing water supply is fed to the supply end 101 of thetubing and the return is from the return end 102 from a side edge of thewallboard 41. Any of the embodiments First to Fourth describedhereinabove may be incorporated in the wallboard for this type ofinstallation.

[0040] Wall Installation—Wallboard Tubing Parallel With Studs

[0041] A typical wood frame construction wall structure is also shown inFIG. 7. It includes a wall bottom plate 43, studs 42 and top plate 44erected on the sub-floor 100. A wall board 51 of conventional dimensionsin which tubing 50 is embedded in several courses 59 defining aserpentine path through the wallboard, the courses being arranged sideby side and end to end in the wallboard and the board length parallel tothe studs is secured to the studs, providing a vertical arrangement ofseveral passes of the tubing and ready for installation of abuttingwallboard to complete the wall.

[0042] The tubing water supply is fed to the supply end 111 of thetubing and the return is from the return end 112 from a side edge of thewallboard 51. Any of the embodiments First to Fourth describedhereinabove may be incorporated in the wallboard for this type ofinstallation.

[0043] Ceiling Installation—Panels And Tubing Across Rafters, Etc.

[0044] Radiant hydronic cooling described herein is effective wheninstalled in the ceiling, because the cooled air against the ceilingfalls to the floor creating a convection flow that is favorable toproviding even cooling throughout the room. In typical wood frameconstruction the ceiling of a room before the finished ceiling isinstalled is bare rafters, joists or strapping. Such a ceilinginstallation would be essentially the same as the wall installationshown in either FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, except it would be on the rafters,joists, etc. of the ceiling instead of the wall studs.

[0045] Wall Installation—Wallboard With Straight Courses of Tubing andInput and Output Headers Attached to the Inside Face of the Wallboard

[0046] The same typical wood frame construction wall structure is shownin FIG. 8, 9 and 10. It includes a wall bottom plate 43 and studs 42erected on sub-floor 100. A wall board 61 of conventional dimensions inwhich tubing 60 is embedded in several straight courses 62 arranged sideby side and end to end in the wallboard and all connected at one end(the water supply end) to the supply header tube 63, and at the otherend (the water return end) to the return header tube 64. The supply andreturn header tubes are attached to the inside face 68 of the wallboardand are parallel to the studs 42. When the wallboard loaded withembedded tubing and with the headers attached to the ends of the coursesof tubing is installed across the studs as shown, each header should bein a space between studs and that space can be loaded with thermalinsulation 69.

[0047] The tubing water supply is fed to the supply end 121 of thetubing and the return is from the return end 122 from a side edge of thewallboard 61. Thus, the wallboard length is perpendicular to the studs42, providing a horizontal arrangement of several courses of the tubingand ready for installation of abutting wallboard 161, to complete thewall. Any of the embodiments First to Fourth described hereinabove maybe incorporated in the wallboard for this type of installation.

[0048] Fifth Embodiment—Paper Covered Gypsum Blueboard Made With Grooveson the Outside Surface With Tubing Inserted in the Groove

[0049]FIGS. 11, 12 and 3 show a sheet 71 of paper covered gypsumblueboard attached to the studs 42 of a wall abutting another sheet ofblueboard 171. In FIG. 11, the tubing 70 is about to be inserted into agroove 74 in the blueboard. The grooved blueboard is factory madeentirely encased in paper 76 including the grooves, thus maintaining thestrength gained by the paper enclosure even with the grooves. Thus, thegrooves are formed in the outside surface 75 of the board, the insidesurface going against the studs

[0050] Sheets of the grooved blueboard are attached to the studs 42 thatform a wall or to the rafters (or strapping) that form a ceiling andabut other sheets 171 of the same thickness blueboard, as shown in FIG.11. Then tubing 70 is inserted in the grooves 74, as shown in FIGS. 12and 13, and connected to a boiler supply and return for heating, or to asource of chilled water for cooling. After testing the water flow forproper operation, the inserted tubing may be coated to accommodate thehard plaster skim coat 78 that is to be applied; and after taping thewallboard joints the skim coat 79 of hard plaster is applied, as shownin FIGS. 12 and 13, providing the finished wall or ceiling. Thus, thewall or ceiling of the room is gently heated or cooled to the watertemperature, the gypsum or cement material acts as a temperature sinkfor heating or cooling and the hard plaster coat raises the radiationefficiency of the heated or cooled wallboard.

[0051] Wall Installation—Wallboard Tubing Horizontal Across Studs

[0052] A typical wood frame construction wall structure is shown in FIG.14. It includes a wall bottom plate 43, studs 42 and top plate 44erected on sub-floor 100. A wall board 71 of conventional dimensions inwhich tubing 70 is embedded in several courses 70 a defining aserpentine path through the wallboard, the courses being arranged sideby side and end to end in the wallboard and the board lengthperpendicular to the studs, providing a horizontal arrangement ofseveral passes of the tubing and ready for installation of abuttingwallboard 171 to complete the wall, followed by a skim coat 79 of hardplaster, to finish the wall.

[0053] The tubing water supply is fed to the supply end 131 of thetubing and the return is from the return end 132 from a side edge of thewallboard 71.

[0054] Wall Installation—Wallboard Tubing Parallel With Studs

[0055] The same typical wood frame construction wall structure is alsoshown in FIG. 15. It includes a wall bottom plate 43, studs 42 and topplate 44 erected on sub-floor 100. The wall board 81 of conventionaldimensions in which tubing 80 is embedded in several courses 80 adefining a serpentine path through the wallboard, the courses beingarranged side by side and end to end in the wallboard and the boardlength parallel to the studs, providing a vertical arrangement ofseveral passes of the tubing and ready for installation of abuttingwallboard to complete the wall, followed by a skim coat of hard plaster,to finish the wall.

[0056] The tubing water supply is fed to the supply end 141 of thetubing and the return is from the return end 142 from a side edge of thewallboard 81.

[0057] Ceiling Installation—Panels And Tubing Across Rafters, Etc.

[0058] Radiant hydronic cooling described herein is effective wheninstalled in the ceiling, because the cooled air against the ceilingfalls to the floor creating a convection flow that is favorable toproviding even cooling throughout the room. In typical wood frameconstruction the ceiling of a room before the finished ceiling isinstalled is bare rafters, joists or strapping. Such a ceilinginstallation would be essentially the same as the wall installationshown in either FIG. 14 or FIG. 15, except it would be on the rafters,joists, etc. of the ceiling instead of the wall studs.

[0059] Compliant Thermally Conductive Filler Material

[0060] A compliant filler material around the tubing held in thewallboard groove in any of those embodiments herein is applied to thegroove before the tubing is inserted or forced into the groove. Apurpose of the filler material is to hold the tubing in the groove as anadhesive, while at the same time allowing the tubing to expand andcontract longitudinally within the groove. In particular, copper tubingmust be free to expand and contract, while the wallboard is fixed bynails, screws, etc. to the wall studs or ceiling rafters. Anotherpurpose of the filler material is to reduce noise created by expansionsand contractions of the tubing in the groove. Yet another and purpose isto provide a medium of thermal conduction from the tubing to the gypsum.A suitable filler material for any of these purposes is silicone rubber.

[0061] A convenient form of silicone rubber that can be used in theinstallations described herein is available commercially as a sealant ora caulking in viscous liquid form, usually dispensed from a tube bysimply forcing it out of a nozzle on the tube. Such a sealant/caulkingis usually a prepared mix of silicone dioxide, methanol and ammonia. Acommercial source of this sealant/caulking mix is a General Electricproduct called SILICONE II that remains resilient for many years afterit is applied.

CONCLUSIONS

[0062] While the inventions described herein are described in connectionwith several preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is notintended to limit the invention to those embodiments. It is intended tocover all alternatives, modifications, equivalents and variations ofthose embodiments and their features as may be made by those skilled inthe art within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

1. A hydronic radiant heating and/or cooling system having aheating/cooling loop including a length of tubing that conducts water,mounted in a wall or ceiling of a room heated/cooled by said system sothat the room is heated/cooled by conduction of heat between the waterin the tubing and the room, the improvement comprising, (a) a sheet ofgypsum or cement wallboard, (b) a length of tubing embedded in saidgypsum or cement wallboard, (c) said sheet of gypsum or cement wallboardwith length of tubing embedded therein attached to the wall studs orceiling rafters of said room, abutting conventional wallboard of thesame thickness and (d) means connected to said length of tubing forfeeding water through said tubing, (e) whereby, heated water so fedthrough said tubing heats said gypsum or cement material in saidwallboard, which heats said room and (f) cooled water so fed throughsaid tubing cools said gypsum or cement material in said wallboard,which cools said room.
 2. A hydronic radiant heating and/or coolingsystem as in claim 1, wherein, (a) said gypsum or cement material insaid wallboard acts as a temperature sink for heating or cooling saidroom
 3. A hydronic radiant heating and/or cooling system as in claim 1,wherein, (a) said wallboard sheet is sized for conventional attachmentto wall studs or ceiling rafters alongside conventional wallboard andfor finishing like conventional wallboard.
 4. A hydronic radiant heatingand/or cooling system as in claim 1, wherein, (a) said sheet ofwallboard has an inside face and an outside face and grooves in one ofsaid faces thereof and (b) said length of tubing is embedded in saidgrooves.
 5. A hydronic radiant heating and/or cooling system as in claim4, wherein, (a) said grooves are in said outside face
 6. A hydronicradiant heating and/or cooling system as in claim 4, wherein, (a) saidgrooves are in said inside face
 7. A method of providing hydronicradiant heating and/or cooling to a room that is framed by wall studsand ceiling rafters, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sheet ofgypsum or cement wallboard, (b) providing a length of tubing embedded insaid gypsum or cement wallboard, (c) attaching said sheet of gypsum orcement wallboard with length of tubing embedded therein to said wallstuds or ceiling rafters of said room, abutting conventional wallboardof the same thickness and (d) connecting a supply of water to saidlength of tubing for feeding water through said tubing, (e) whereby,heated water so fed through said tubing heats said gypsum or cementmaterial in said wallboard, which heats said room and (f) cooled waterso fed through said tubing cools said gypsum or cement material in saidwallboard, which cools said room.
 8. A hydronic radiant heating and/orcooling system having a heating/cooling loop including a length oftubing that conducts water, mounted in a wall or ceiling of a roomheated/cooled by said system so that the room is heated/cooled byconduction of heat between the water in the tubing and the room, theimprovement comprising, (a) a sheet of paper encased gypsum or cementwallboard that has grooves recessed in the outside face thereof, allentirely encased in said paper, said paper being specially adapted forthe adherence thereto of hard plaster applied thereto as a skim coat,(b) said sheet of wallboard attached to the wall studs or ceilingrafters of said room, abutting the like or conventional wallboard of thesame thickness, (c) a length of tubing inserted in said wallboardgrooves, (d) A skim coat of hard plaster covering the outside face ofsaid wallboards including said inserted tubing, (e) means connected tosaid length of tubing for feeding water through said tubing, (f)whereby, heated water so fed through said tubing heats said wallboard,which heats said room and (g) cooled water so fed through said tubingcools said wallboard, which cools said room.
 9. A hydronic radiantheating and/or cooling system as in claim 8, wherein, (a) said gypsum orcement material in said wallboard acts as a temperature sink for heatingor cooling said room.
 10. A hydronic radiant heating and/or coolingsystem as in claim 8, wherein, (a) said hard plaster coat raises theradiation efficiency of the heated or cooled wallboard.
 11. A hydronicradiant heating and/or cooling system as in claim 8, wherein, (a) saidwallboard sheet is sized for conventional attachment to wall studs orceiling rafters alongside conventional wallboard and for finishing likeconventional wallboard.
 12. A method of providing hydronic radiantheating and/or cooling to a room that is framed by wall studs andceiling rafters, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sheet of paperencased gypsum or cement wallboard that has grooves recessed in theoutside face thereof, all entirely encased in said paper, said paperbeing specially adapted for the adherence thereto of hard plasterapplied thereto as a skim coat, (b) attaching said sheet of wallboard tothe wall studs or ceiling rafters of said room, abutting the like orconventional wallboard of the same thickness, (c) inserting a length oftubing in said wallboard grooves, (d) applying a skim coat of hardplaster covering the outside face of said wallboards including saidinserted tubing, (e) connecting said length of tubing to means forfeeding water therethrough, (f) whereby, heated water so fedtherethrough heats said wallboard, which heats said room and (g) cooledwater so fed therethrough cools said wallboard, which cools said room.